Jordan to Campus Community–Nov. 2, 2006
From: “President” <President@Gallaudet.edu>
To: President@gallaudet.edu
Subject: Message to the Campus Community
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 18:50:12 -0500
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, and Teachers:
I don’t have to tell you that the past months of intense discord have
taken their toll on our community. Certainly the impact of what we have
been through will resonate among all of us on campus and among alumni
throughout the world for many years to come.
I deeply regret that Dr. Fernandes was not given an opportunity to
become Gallaudet’s next President and carry out her vision for the
University. She has devoted the past 11 years to making Gallaudet an
inclusive educational environment of high quality for all deaf and hard
of hearing students, and I believe she would have led the University to
new heights of achievement. However, that is not to be, and we must
look to the future of Gallaudet, to address the issues that have been
raised, and to reconcile our differences.
As we work to ensure a safe and productive teaching, learning, and
working environment for all members of our community, I ask each of you
to join me in bringing about reconciliation on campus. One way to
begin is for each of us to look within ourselves and think of what we
can do to help bring about healing. I realize that the issues before us
evoke passionate feelings, but I believe we can-and must-devote
that same passion to addressing these issues and healing our community.
Concerns that have been debated with heat must be discussed and
resolved through collaboration of the administration, board, faculty,
staff, students, alumni, and all those committed to the well-being of
the University.
During the almost 19 years of my presidency, we have accomplished great
things together. I know our community will get through this challenging
period, but it will require hard work from all of us. After all, no
matter what position each of us took in recent months, we share a
common love and concern for Gallaudet University. May that shared love
give us the desire and strength to rebuild relationships, and work
together for Gallaudet’s future.
I. King Jordan
President
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That was a very nice letter, very heartfelt. If I had a champage glass, I’d lift it up and say “salud! Here’s to Gallaudet”
*clink*
If IKJ has no plan to make an apology to the community and world what he and his admin have done lately, he would damage the community badly for a long time. And his legacy too!
IKJ is going to have a big time of repairs on the university image in two short months.
The old guy does not get it. He will go down history like that. He is irrelevant, he is still out of touch with reality. I am sure the new admin will find some skeletons in the cupboard. I wish Irving Jordan would have been a more sensible man. But he is not. I am sorry, but I just can’t feel sorry for him.
When I read this letter, I did feel that it was not a remorseful letter. I feel it was more of a guilt trip letter. It is sad to see so many accomplishment he had made during his presidency and he is leaving with no dignity if he keeps up with that attitude. I am seeing there are no possibly way to mend it with his two months left to go before he leave his office. Technically, he came into the office 19 years ago with a mess and he is leaving in two months with a mess.
I frankly don’t understand Jordan’s lack of responsibility and remorse for his unethical and improper misconduct since last May
ijk the “idiot” send a letter on 10/29/06 sharing his thought on board’s decision ot terminate jkf. And he has to do it again?Clerly, double sword message. Knifing the community with reminder of why jkf is the one.
Very clear message of the so called healing covoered in his letter. He will constantly throw “jkf is the one but you…”, when working together toward healing.
Just what have been saying, “Healing WILL NOT happen till ijk leaves”. His lies and oppressions destroyed his legacy, trust in him is gone. Even tho, he reminded us of his 19 years but not how he destroyed himself in the six months.
Mixed message with very short part asking for healing.
Now, I read elsewhere that ijk may return to GALLAUDET as a faculty. I did wonder if that was the game with jfk. ijk MUST leave Gallaudet completely. No string attached. The sooner the better. 58 days is too long.
Has anyone read Dr. Robert Johnson’s paper on the FSSA web site? In his paper, Dr. Johnson makes the arguments that the IKJ adm. have been doing a lot of the wrong things(placing lies, controling the flow of information, intimidating people, etc.) for a long time. He also states that IKJ said that he(IKJ)never supported DPN! What hypocite! If anything, I see now what a lot of my friends on the faculty and staff have been saying for years. IKJ did do a lot of good for the university-but at the cost of a lot of pain to many good, honest, dedicated people. Now his legacy is damage. And I, as a major donor to Gallaudet, am very happy to see him leaving.
Raphael J. St. Johns
PS- IKJ really should apolized for all the damage he has done to the Deaf community and to Gallaudet the past few months- however he, like the tyrant that he is, won’t do the right thing here either.
IKJ has started losing his wheels since last Sunday. His administration’s functionality will stop at one point when his close people(Paul Kelly, Mercy Coogan, and several administrators) are wiped out.
He forgot his interactive skills with the stakeholders, continues doing the communication with them through the email, website, and the PR dept, not in person.
The healing/cleanup process will start when the interim president comes in.
“we must look to the future of Gallaudet, to address the issues that have been raised, and to reconcile our differences.”
he’s got a good point.
Let it go, guys.
“to reconcile our differences” huh-this from a man who ordered – after he promised me and 7-8 faculty that he would’nt – night time arrests of (for the most part) DEAF persons! At Gallaudet of all places!
Fine…let’s work on reconcilation…but only after he steps up and does the right thing frist. Also, I find some irony that he speaks about the future, when the protesters ( by going on a hunger strike, getting arrested,etc.) risked thier future for us.
I realy wish that King Jordan would,for once,be the leader that he cliams to be, and simply step up and admit that he wrong and apolozied for the dumb, stupid and selfish decisions that he (and his administartion) has been doing for the past 19 years.
That will really begin reconcilliation.
Again…I have to say it… I will be gald when he leaves.
Raphael J. St. Johns, C-87, G-00